Rating: Summary: Dont waste your time Review: My husband gave me this as a gift knowing I like to workout and was looking for a new pilates program, otherwise I would never have bought it.If you use the method pilates then this will be too easy for you, and the method series is pretty easy to begin with. I have back problems and this only made it worse, now reading the other reviews on this page I wish I had seen them before I did it the first time. Some things are better to just pay the extra money and pay an expert to teach you how to do them right. Save your money and go to a class or a pilates instructor and use a machine. It is a world of difference.
Rating: Summary: Don't be a Dummy! Review: This video just does not compare to others. Pilates for Dummies is such a better video on all fronts. There are less exercises covered in this video, the instructor is a pre-madonna, and the production is terrible. Pilates for Dummies on the other hand covers 18 exercises, is clear and specific with instruction, the instructor is a nationally recognized fitness professional with over 15 years of experience and the production is crisp. And then, compare them on price-- this video is not worth it and doesn't add much value for your money.
Rating: Summary: Not Impressed Review: I tried this video last night despite the negative reviews posted here (thank heavens it's borrowed and I didn't pay any money for it) and am hugely disappointed. The instructor is too worried about her own workout to take the time to really make sure that people who are following her are instructed correctly. I'm going to listen to other reviewers who have wound up with back injuries and not do this video again. I'll wait until I get my Pilates for Dummies video to try Pilates again.
Rating: Summary: Spread the WORD! Review: I have had dull lower back pains for over 2 months consistently now. I have gone to several doctors and the last one I went to immediately asked about my exercise patterns and probed into the pilates instruction I have been using. I was shocked to hear from him that he has been seeing numerous patients who now have back pain resulting from improper pilates instruction. He even named off this instructor as a primary contributor to the problems his patients are experiencing! I couldn't believe it! Now I am in therapy for my back and will be for at least another 6 months. This is a total travesty and both the instructor and LivingArts should be held accountable. Please spread the word-- this instructor is really doing more harm than good. The good news about pilates is that it is a safe exercise and very beneficial if done properly with good, solid instruction. My doctor was very knowledgable and recommended Michelle Dozois, Jennifer Kreis, and Karen Voight... names I have seen before.
Rating: Summary: Can't get past the annoying instructor Review: I can't say much about the workout since Ana Caban kept astonishing me with her narissistic attitude and her coy mugging for the camera. A friend of mine tried the tape it as well and asked me, "Did she REALLY say that?"
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: This is an excellent introduction to pilates. This tape will help you learn the exercises correctly. It is a fun short effective tape.
Rating: Summary: INJURY alert Review: I know that you aren't suppose to comment on other reviewers but I felt compelled to write a review after reading a few of the recent reviewers talk about back injuries resulting from the lack of instruction provided in this video. As a medical professional I have seen a significant increase in people coming to me about recurring back problems. When I ask them about their lifestyle and any changes in their lives I have found that they are using this video. I felt it was my responsibility to do my own research so I purchased several pilates videos including this one. After reviewing about 6 videos and instructors, in my opinion, this instructor is an amateur compared to others out there and I am tremendously concerned that there are so many people following this video. I am very concerned about the future pains and injuries that people will realize over time-- it doesn't happen over night. I have done pilates myself and it is a great exercise. I often recommend it to patients and refer them to professional instructors (I highly recommend them to take private instruction first) so they can benefit from the exercise without injury. If you really want a video I recommend Karen Voight, Jennifer Kreis, or Kathy Smith.
Rating: Summary: Don't waste your money Review: I didn't like this workout at all. I prefer Lynne Robinson's videos much more. There is a lot of strain placed on the neck in these workouts and it isn't necessary. It is fast paced but fast paced does not equal good. Even though Lynne Robinson's workout is slower paced I feel the muscle use the next day and I never felt it with this tape.
Rating: Summary: Love it.... Review: I love this tape. I'm not, by nature, an exercise lover and I generally hate, hate, hate exercising to tapes because the instuctiors usually perky enough to make me want to hurl. Caban is low key and calm. She explains the moves well, and provides alternative, lower stress forms for those who need to work up to the full strength positions. I've had no trouble with injuries at all, although I can easily see how you could aggravate an exsiting condition doing Pilates. Anyone with even a hint of back trouble should probably steer clear of Pilates because it demands a lot of your lower back. As always, beginners should start out slowly, avoiding the tendency to be gung ho and hurt themselves. About my only criticism of the tape is that it switches too quickly between the exercises, not giving a beginner much time to transition. I didn't mind simply pausing the tape the first few times, until I'd memorized the sequence and the basic body positions. At that point, I could work on fine tuning the exercises. One thing I found was that after a few sessions I became a lot more aware of the muscles that I was using and this let me be more aware, in turn, of when I was doing the exercises most effectively.
Rating: Summary: Great workout! Review: I've never done Pilates before. I really enjoyed this workout and was able to do all of the non-modified moves. It didn't make me sweat but I sure felt it the next day! That's my favorite kind of workout. If you hate aerobics (like I do) try Pilates or Power Yoga.
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